Those were the words James used when he reached out to another free agent in the past 10 days and pitched the idea of joining them.

"He said, 'Would you be willing to take less to join Dream Team?'" the player, who did not want to be identified, told the Daily News. "He said his people were putting it together."

I've come across a source who has told me that free agent player could be Ray Allen. The source tells me that Allen has spoken to James and his preference is to remain with the Celtics, but that's predicated on Paul Pierce remaining with the team. The money is not a huge factor. Winning more championships is the most important factor.

According to the source, Allen has spoken to James and would consider joining said, "Dream Team." Along with possibly taking less money if it was the perfect opportunity.

(I'm going to assume that some, if not all the BIG 3 will take less than the max in this scenario).

One last factor the source close to Allen mentioned was that Ray's mother lives in Orlando, and he would not mind being closer to his family.

We interrupt this vacation to report that the NBA Free Agent frenzy has begun!

Stephen A. Smith of Fox Sports Radio
and the Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that LeBron James and Chris
Bosh will join Dwyane Wade in Miami this upcoming season.

I will be speaking with Stephen A. Smith momentarily and update this story.

So, please check back frequently for an update.

UPDATE!

Okay, just got off the phone with Stephen A. Smith.

Here's how the conversation went.

JS: So, what is the genesis of the report?

SAS:
I spoke to my source and felt comfortable enough to go with my report.
The report is that LeBron James has basically decided that he's going
to South Beach. Dwyane Wade has done a nice job recruiting him and it would be the best way to win multiple championships.

As far as Chris Bosh, it was a forgone conclusion that he was going there (Miami) or Dallas. It's going to be Miami, because that's
where he wants to be. I reported months ago, that I thought Bosh would end up there.

It
was a matter of what Pat Riley wanted. It was either going to be Chris
Bosh or Amar'e Stoudemire and Pat riley would rather have Chris Bosh.

Now,twoscenariosare at play. Eitherallthree of theseguystakelessmoney to make it work or therewillhave to be a sign & tradesomewhere. Here's howthatconversationwent.

JS: Who's more likely to walk without needing a sign & trade?

SAS: LeBron is willing to walk -- the Cavaliers are not inclined to help LeBron bye
any stretch. If they lose LeBron there nothing they can do -- they might as
well start from scratch. They will have lost a superstar and a home grown product.

Again,
this is highly likely. With LeBron you can't be 100 percent sure. As
this report circulates the pressure on LeBron will mount and with a guy
as fickle as him I wouldn't say anything is a done deal until he signs.

For Toronto, losing Chris Bosh is not as devastating. If you can get something of quality in return you pull the trigger.

A
max deal needs to be more important to Chris Bosh because of the
endorsement dollars -- those dollars -- they're funneling in to Lebron
and Dwyane Wade. It would behoove him to get those extra 30 million to
make up the money he would not be getting in endorsements.

If there's a sign & trade for Bosh -- then Michael Beasley
(who is signed through this upcoming season -- team option in 2011) would have to be part of that transaction.

Now, Stephen A. Smith told
me he didn't know yet if Toronto would be amenable to that, but he did
provide insight into what Beasley's value could be.

JS: Does Michael Beasley still have enough value to get a sign & trade done?

SAS:
People like his skill set even though Beasley has underachieved. His
salary that he's making as the number 2 overall pick is a bargain.

In this possible scenario, he'd want to renegotiate his deal and that could help facilitate the process.

We interrupt this vacation to report that the NBA Free Agent frenzy has begun!

Stephen A. Smith of Fox Sports Radio and the Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that LeBron James and Chris Bosh will join Dwyane Wade in Miami this upcoming season.

I will be speaking with Stephen A. Smith momentarily and update this story.

So, please check back frequently for an update.

UPDATE!

Okay, just got of the phone with Stephen A. Smith.

Here's how the conversation went.

JS: So, what is the genesis of the report?

SAS: I spoke to my source and felt comfortable enough to go with my report. The report was that LeBron James has basically decided that he's going to South Beach. Dwyane Wade has done a nice job recruiting him and that it would be the best way to win multiple championships.

As far as Chris Bosh, it was a forgone conclusion and he was going there (Miami) because that's
where he wants to be. I reported months ago, that I thought Bosh would end up there.

It was a matter of what Pat Riley wanted. It was either going to be Chris Bosh or Amar'e Stoudemire and Pat riley would rather have Chris Bosh.

Now, there are two scenarios at play here. Either all three of these
guys take less money to make it work or there will have to be a sign
& trade somewhere. Here's how that conversation went.

JS: Who's more likely to walk without needing a sign & trade?

SAS: LeBron is willing to walk -- the Cavaliers are not inclined to help LeBron bye
any stretch. If they lose LeBron there nothing they can do -- they might as
well start from scratch. They will have lost a superstar and a home grown product.

Again, this is highly likely. With LeBron you can't be 100 percent sure. As this report circulates the pressure on LeBron will mount and with a guy as fickle as him I wouldn't say anything is a done deal until he signs.

For Toronto, losing Chris Bosh is not as devastating. If you can get something of quality in return you pull the trigger.

A max deal needs to be more important to Chris Bosh because of the endorsement dollars -- those dollars -- they're funneling in to Lebron and Dwyane Wade. It would behoove him to get those extra 30 million to make up the money he would not be getting in endorsements.

If there's a sign & trade for Bosh -- then Michael Beasley would have to be part of that transaction. Now, Stephen A. Smith told me he didn't know yet if Toronto would be amenable to that, but he did provide insight into what Beasley's value could be.

JS: Does Michael Beasley still have enough value to get a sign & trade done?

SAS: People like his skill set even though beasley has underachieved. His salary that he's making as the number 2 overall pick is a bargain.

In this possible scenario, he'd want to renegotiate his deal and that could help facilitate the process.

I thinkJefferyLoria is trying to channel is innerSteinbrenner. I believe he wasalso a Yankeefangrowing up so maybe he tookhiscuesfrom, "TheBoss."

Steinbrenner is famousforbothhispursuit of high-pricedfreeagentsand, in somecases, infamousforfeudingwiththem. In hisfirst 23 seasons, he changedmanagers 20 times (includingdismissingBillyMartin on fiveseparateoccasions), andgeneralmanagers 11 times in 30 years.

Well, exceptforthepursuit of thehighpricedfreeagents, everythingelse he seems to be up to speed on.

Therehavebeenfourmanagers in 8+ years of theLoriaera. FrediGonzalezbecomesthethirdmanagerfired by Loria. TheothersincludeJeffTorborgandJoeGirardi. JackMcKeonresigned by allmediaaccounts. Somebelieve he waspushedout, but that's neitherherenorthere.

Let's take a look at somehistory.

JeffTorborggetstheaxe. TraderJackcomes in andtheywin a championship.

Thenexttwoyears to hiscredit he brings in somehighpricedfreeagents, and it doesn't workout.

Let's fastforward to Augustwhere a youngMarlinsteam is in wildcardcontentionandLoriaberated an umpirewhilesittingbehindtheplate. Fromthedugout, Girarditold or askedtheowner to stop. LoriaangrilylefthisseatandconfrontedGirardiafterthegameduring a 90-minuteclubhousemeeting.

Loriahasdeclined to comment on theepisode or respond to publishedreportsthat he firedGirardi, thenchangedhismind.

EvenBrettFavrewouldcallthis a schism.

He laterfiresGirardi at theend of theseasonandtheemphasisforthechange is put on GirardiandBeinfastnotgettingalong.

That's truethatthey didn't getalong, but if you didn't thinkthat Loria's egowasthecatalystthenyouprobablybelieve in thetoothfairy.

Listenthisteam is prettygood. No one in theirrightmindoutside of theownerandthefrontofficethinksthisflawedteamSHOULDmaketheplayoffs in a divisionwiththetwotimedefendingNationalLeagueChampions in theirowndivision.

That's greatstart to theseasonhuh?

Thiswas a tickingtimebomb.

Unfortunately, forFredi he wasmadethescapegoatbecausetheowner won't spendthecash to makethisteam a contender.

HisGeneralManagerwhowhiffed on theMiguelCabreratrade is stillregarded as one of thebest in thegame. In spite of that, theman is not a miracleworker.

Yes, I know that ESPN had a report this morning that Chris Paul was not on the market. That doesn't mean he won't be dealt or listen to offers. According to Tim Povtak's story Orlando's GM Otis Smith has made the call to New Orleans.

For those that don't know Tim Povtak has excellent Orlando ties. He covered the team for many years for the Orlando Sentinel.

The Magic, as part of the early discussion, would receive both Paul and small forward James Posey.

Although Paul clearly is the best player in the talks, the Hornets are interested in reducing future salary obligations. The team is in the midst of an ownership sale/transfer that has been stalled by the debt obligations that the new owner would incur.

Paul has three years remaining on his contract worth $49 million. The final year, at $17.7 million, is a player's option.

Although Carter is past his prime, he is attractive because he has only one year remaining on his contract, worth $17.7 million. It would allow the Hornets to drop below the salary cap next summer. Nelson, an All-Star point guard two seasons ago, has three years remaining at $6.7, $7.3 and $7.8 million, making less than half of Paul's salary. The inclusion of Posey, who is scheduled to make $6.4 and $6.9 million, would make the deal work under salary cap rules and give the Magic a starting small forward to replace Matt Barnes, who is expected to leave as a free agent this summer.

If this trade does come to fruition it could be a monumental shake up in the NBA.

You would have a top 3 point guard (I think he's #2) and arguably the best big man in the game on the same team.

Paul, would be able to make Howard a better player. Running pick & roll, finding him cutting to the basket and in transition. Look at what CP3 did for Tyson Chandler's career from 2006 though 2008.

Now, imagine what he can do for Howard...

SCARY!

As frightening as this may sound it could be the best thing that happens to the Heat.

If you're Pat Riley you can sell LeBron James on needing to play with Dwyane Wade simply to get out of the east.

Thanks to the Lakers the league is moving even further to the SUPER POWER Teams.

That have and the have nots.

So, if this goes down (and Pat moves Michael Beasley for cap as expected), look for Riles to sell the Dream Team scenario, out of necessity for all those involved.

Also, HOOPSWORLD has a rumor that Miami has been offered a selection in the lottery in the upcoming NBA Draft.

My thoughts on that are that if it's not for a top 5 pick then it's simply not worth it. Allegedly, the Heat are mulling over the offer.

Man, this has gotten real fun & interesting huh?

JS

BTW: I'll be doing a live blog on this site from the American Airlines Arena beginning at 7pm Thursday.

Marshall, spokeabouthowexcited he is to be on hisnewteamandhow he marvels at theworkethic of some of histeammates,particularlyhismates in thewidereceivingcorps. He spoke of howaddinghimthisoffseasonwillmaketheoffensemoredynamic. Brandonseemedexcitedaboutplaying in theWildcatandjokedabout a possiblenewwrinkle. (click on link below for clip)